Please also review our guidelines page.
Adoption Location & Travel
We welcome adopters from any location unless a dog’s profile lists a location restriction. Our foster homes are currently located primarily in Southeastern Virginia and Northern North Carolina.
We do not transport dogs for adoption. Adopters must be willing to drive to the dog’s location to meet and adopt.
All people and dogs living in the household must meet the adoptable dog in person before the adoption can be finalized.
Adoption & Membership Fees
A $40 first-year membership fee is required as part of the adoption process. This helps cover paperwork, website upkeep, and other incidental rescue expenses.
Adoption fees by age:
Puppies under 7 months also require a $100 refundable spay/neuter deposit in addition to the adoption fee. This is refunded when proof of spay/neuter is received. The adopter is responsible for the cost of the procedure and remaining puppy vetting.
Reduced Adoption Fees
Mixed-breed dogs, including mixed breeds we rescue from code red situations, typically have adoption fees $100 below the age-based fees listed above. This reduction does not apply to small or petite mixed-breed dogs. Each dog’s adoption fee will be noted in their profile on Adopt-a-Pet and our website.
What’s Included in the Adoption Fee
Dogs are treated for heartworm as needed. Puppies under 7 months receive age-appropriate care and are adopted with a mandatory spay/neuter contract.
Many of our older dogs come with a Martingale collar. For all Shelties and Collies, adopters must purchase one before pickup if a collar is not provided. We prefer Max and Neo, but any collar must be a Martingale without a chain.
🏡 Home Requirements
A home visit or virtual home visit is required, with all household members present. Instructions for virtual visits are sent after we receive your application.
We contact personal and/or veterinary references as part of the approval process.
🩺 Vetting & Pet Ownership Standards
All animals currently in your home must:
For a medical spay/neuter exemption, submit a signed veterinary letter on official letterhead within 24 hours of applying. See our guidelines page for full requirements.
We do not require flea prevention, but we ask you to explain how you manage fleas. Natural flea treatment alternatives are welcome.
👶 Household & Property Criteria
Children must be:
Single-family homes with backyard chickens must have at least 1.5 acres, with chickens fenced separately from the dog’s play area.
🏠 Homeownership & Stability
The adopter must be the homeowner. We cannot approve an adoption if a non-owner, such as an adult child, plans to take the dog when they move out.
We consider the entire household’s future plans to help ensure a stable, lifelong home.
Age & Lifetime Planning
We make age-appropriate placements, considering each dog’s age, energy level, and care needs alongside the applicant’s ability to provide lifelong care.
We do not adopt dogs under the age of 2 to applicants 65 or older. Applicants aged 75–80 may be considered for select senior dogs through our Senior-to-Senior program. We do not adopt to applicants over 80.
🐶 Finding the Right Dog
A telephone interview may be conducted before scheduling a meet. We match dogs with adopters based on temperament, activity level, training needs, and lifestyle compatibility.
Adoptions are not first come, first served. We choose homes that best meet each dog’s needs.
🧷 Microchipping
All dogs are microchipped before adoption. If microchipping cannot be completed beforehand, the adoption is not finalized until it is done.
Microchips are permanently registered to Coastal. Please notify us of any changes to your contact information.
🤝 Ongoing Support
Our relationship doesn’t end at adoption. We’re here for you and your Coastal dog.
You’ll receive at least one post-adoption follow-up, in person or virtually. You’re always welcome to reach out with questions, concerns, or happy updates.
Adoption Requirements
Every dog has a different history, personality, and set of needs. Please read the dog’s full bio before applying, including any specific placement requirements.
Our goal is to find a lasting match where both the dog and the family can thrive.
Applicant Requirements
Applicants must:
Be at least 24 years old.
Provide ID with a current address, or email a primary utility bill in their name.
Be the primary homeowner or leaseholder, with landlord approval if renting.
Be financially prepared for lifelong care, including veterinary expenses.
Provide a safe, loving, and stable home.
Have current pets spayed or neutered, unless an approved medical exemption applies.
Not be actively breeding or have bred animals of any species within the past 5 years.
If you have a puppy who has not yet been spayed or neutered, please wait until that procedure is completed before applying.
Medical Spay/Neuter Exemptions
We consider medical exemptions when spaying or neutering would be life-threatening for the pet. To request an exemption:
Indicate the request on your adoption application.
Provide letters on official veterinary letterhead, with original signatures from both the primary veterinarian and a specialist, confirming the medical risk.
Include the pet’s microchip number, a clear photo, and supporting medical records.
Email the documentation within 1 hour of submitting your application so everything can be reviewed together.
Exemptions are limited to documented medical circumstances and require approval.
Age & Lifetime Planning
We make age-appropriate placements, considering each dog’s age, energy level, and care needs alongside the applicant’s ability to provide lifelong care.
We do not place dogs under age 2 with applicants 65 or older. Applicants aged 75–80 may be considered for select senior dogs through our Senior-to-Senior program. We do not adopt to applicants over 80.
Children & Household Agreement
Homes with children under 5 will be considered based on the individual dog’s temperament and needs. We typically do not place Shelties in homes with children under 5.
Dogs known to do well with children will have that information clearly noted in their bios, along with any age recommendations.
Everyone living in the home must be aware of and agree to the adoption.
Personal Companion Homes
Our dogs are adopted to private individuals as personal, in-home companions.
We do not place dogs with businesses or organizations, including kennels, breeders, doggy daycares, or training facilities, or on properties used for commercial operations. This applies to both for-profit and nonprofit settings. Our dogs are placed as pets, rather than for working roles.
Fencing & Outdoor Safety
Most of our dogs require a fully fenced yard for safe exercise, adjustment, and socialization. Any exception for an older, lower-energy dog will be stated in that dog’s bio.
Minimum fence heights are:
Collies: 4.5 feet
Shelties: 3.5 feet
For small dogs, wrought iron fencing or fencing with large openings must have secure screening or chicken wire along the bottom 3 feet to prevent escape or injury.
Gates must have secure locks that prevent someone outside the property from opening them.
Dog parks are not a substitute for a secure yard during the transition period. Our dogs need time to settle into a predictable routine.
Pools, Ponds & Waterfront Homes
Homes with pools must have a 6-foot privacy fence with a self-closing, locking gate.
We do not place dogs in homes that combine doggie-door access with a pool, pond, or waterfront property.
Chickens & Farm Animals
Homes with backyard chickens must have at least 1.5 acres, with chickens fenced separately from the dog’s play area.
Homes with horses or other farm animals must have a fenced yard attached to the house, even when the individual dog’s bio does not otherwise require a fence.
Other Dogs in the Home
The household may have no more than 5 dogs total, including the adopted dog, working dogs, and personal service dogs. Local city or county limits must also be followed.
We consider the size, temperament, and behavior history of current dogs when reviewing a potential match. If the dogs are unlikely to be compatible, we may decline that placement to protect the wellbeing of everyone involved.
Home Stability
The applicant must be the person responsible for the dog’s long-term home and care. We cannot approve an adoption in the homeowner’s or leaseholder’s name if another household member plans to take the dog when moving out.
We consider the household’s future plans as part of finding a stable, lasting placement.
Application & Approval Process
Please use a personal email address when applying.
The process includes:
A complete adoption application
Veterinary references
A home visit or virtual home check
A telephone interview when needed
An approved application must be on file before meeting a dog.
We match dogs with families based on temperament, activity level, training needs, and lifestyle compatibility. Adoptions are not first come, first served.
Our Placement Decisions
These guidelines help us make consistent decisions based on each dog’s safety and long-term wellbeing. Individual dogs may have additional requirements, and submitting an application does not guarantee approval or placement with a particular dog.
We’re happy to explain a requirement or help you determine whether a dog may be a good fit. Any available exceptions are those specifically described in these guidelines or the dog’s bio.
Our Commitment to You
We want every adoption to be the beginning of a happy, lasting relationship. Taking care with the matching process helps our dogs settle successfully and gives families a clearer understanding of what to expect.
If you have questions about your situation, please email coastalsheltierescue@gmail.com before applying. We’re happy to help you understand the process.
We do not mail or email applications
Coastalsheltierescue@gmail.com
If you are set on a certain dog please email and ask if that dog is pending adoption. If we receive any part of your application not filled out or not signed your application is not valid and will be denied.
If your vet reference is not good the applications is denied without further review.
coastalsheltierescue@gmail.com
Copyright © 2025 Coastal Sheltie Rescue is based in Virginia
All potential adopters regardless of limitation must be able to physically feed themselves and the dog unassisted, transport the dog to the vet & give physical activity & bathroom breaks outdoors within a safe environment.
* Please see each individual dog for requirements to adopt. Dogs with exercise needs must be able to be met by the adopter.
As a matter of policy we do not discriminate on race, color , gender, sexual orientation, or religion.
We do no adopt dog to homes with electric shock collar fencing of any kind.